Israel Chief Rabbi Appeals to Vatican Against Calendar Reform

August 20, 1962

JERUSALEM (Aug. 19)

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim of Israel today appealed to the Vatican to refrain from recommending the adoption by the forthcoming Ecumenical Council of a calendar reform which would affect the fixity of the Jewish Sabbath.

The Ecumenical Council, which will start its meeting at the Vatican in the second week of October, has on its agenda the question of introducing a World Calendar which has long been opposed by Jews all over the world because it would result in having the Jewish Sabbath fall on a different day of the week every year. The Catholic Church has also opposed the idea of the proposed World Calendar, but seems to be inclined now to accept it. Chief Rabbi Nissim voiced his appeal to the Vatican at the opening session of the twentieth convention of World Mizrachi – Hapoel Hamizrachi attended by delegates from 24 countries.